The Fourth Of July Essay

Boom, pop, crackle. These were the sounds that thrummed in my ears as I watched the fireworks light up the sky. All the expected celebratory events were unfolding around me for The Fourth of July. Looking about in the center field of all the cabins, the colors of red, white, and blue could be found everywhere, all the way to the ruffles on my blue jean dress. The events occurring could almost be described as typical for a family reunion on a holiday. Almost. My dad’s family reunion in Concan, Texas looked like what it always had: Fireworks, long lost cousins, and southern food to make your mouth water. However, this time it felt different. Mom and Dad have been distant recently, but at nine-years-old I believed that is how most moms and dads were supposed to behave. My dad was thriving with all of his family surrounding him, while my mom was off in the distance watching with sad eyes. I shook it off because at that age I could not be bothered with such sad things. My time would rather be spent having fun. The cousins around my age are running around like wild dogs, and as I pass by my first cousin, Jamie, she turns to me and screams, “Robin, come play tag! Susan’s it!” I watch as she giggles and runs away just as Susan approaches with outstretched arms. …show more content…
What was to happen to our family next was obvious: Divorce. I watched it happen to our neighbors. The thing is, I did not care about coming from a broken home, I cared that my dad hurt my mom. The care resonated within me giving me a fierce want for retribution. It scared me to have such violent thoughts at that age, almost wrong, but I dismissed the notion by perceiving it to be necessary to have those thoughts. My so-called father betrayed the family. Those uncontrollable feelings have never ceased. I have never dared to utter these words out loud, but in all honestly, I never forgave the man. When he walked out on us the next day, it did not hurt to watch him